Improvement in heel-polishing machines



C. H. HELMYS.

Heel-Polishing Machines-. No.156,732. PatentedNov.10,1874.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEErcE.

CHARLES H. HELMS, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENTIN HEEL-POLISHING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 156,732, dated November 10, 1874; application filed January 6, 1873.

'and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the machine, taken on the line .r w of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of Fig. 1, taken on the line y y. Fg.4 isa view of one of the polishers detached, showing the socketin which it is confined.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the bed-plate. B is an upright stand, which supports the polishers, to the rear side and top of which is attached arch G, the form ot' which arch governs the motion of the polishers. Dis achamberbeueath the arch, open on the back side. E isaplate, which is coniined to the standB bycleats, so that it may slide vertically. The shoeF is conned to this slide, the uppcr part of which side extends up behind the heel,andrece`ves the heel-piece G. This heelpiece is confined loosely to the slide by the screw H, and its near side is convex, so that it may be readily turned in either direction while confined to slide. I is an arm attached to the lower edge of the sliding plate E, which extends outward and upward above the center of the heel, as seen in Fig. 1. J is a twisted spring, which slides through the arm, and is provided with a set-screw for fastening it. The point K of this spring bears against the last of the shoe, so as to press the shoe against the heel-piece. L is a lever of any suitable form, which works in the loose fulcrum-block M, the latter being placed on the cap-piece N of the arm. The spring J,lfrom the arm, is twisted a quarter-turn, so that it is made to spring vertically or laterally by means of the lever L, and thereby turn, the heel in either direction, to receive the act-ioii of the polishers. `The convex side of the heel-piece allows of this motion of the he'el. O represents the polishers, the shanks l? of which are confined in the sockets Q, each of which sockets contains a spring,

R, as seen in Fig.l,to force the polishers from the socket, bnt the action is limited by the slot and pin or screw S, as represented. The polishers and sockets stand radially from the heel upon the face of the stand B. Each socket and polisher is confined to the top of the arch by means of an arm, T, and the bands U V. W is a belt between the bands, which is connected with each arm T. The ends of this belt extend down, and are attached to the snrface of the oscillating block X. This block has a rock`shai't,-Y, to which is attached the operating-bar Z. Upon vibrating this bar back and forth, the arms T are moved over the surface of the arch, which gives the polishers a corresponding motion on the heel. The heel is raised up to the polishers, when the shoe has been affixed to the slide, by means of the foot-lever a.

The form of the rubbing end of the polisher is seen in Fig. 4. They are elastic only in the direction of their socket; but in their lateral vibrations they are governed by the form ofthe arch, and this may vary from a true arc of a circle as may bedesired.

In the heel-polishing machines h eretoforeconstructed the motion of the polishers has been confined to a true arc; but by my arrangement their lnotionis governed by theform ofthe arch. The arms T may be connected by means of links or joints instead of a belt, it' desired.

To render the operation of polishing complete, a certain amount of heat is necessary; and this is supplied by means cfa gas-burner, b, attached to the stationary shelf c at the base of the arch. The burner is connected with the necessary gas-supply by means of a iiexible tube. The interior of the arch D is the heatingchamber. The arch and arms T are heated to a high temperature, and the polishers are raised to the desired temperature by heat-conductors therefrom.

In machines heretofore invented for polishing` heels the means for holding, raising, and varying the position of the heel is very imperfect. By this arrangement the heel is held rigid while receivingthe polish,and raised in position during-the process by simply manipulating the lever L, and bearing on the foot-lever a, to give the requisite pressure against the polishers.

The lever Z may be operated either by hand or motive power, as may be found most convenient.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The arch C, arms T, sockets Q, and polishers O, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as shown and described, for the purposes specified.

2. The gas-burner b, chamber D, and stationary shelf c, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In combination with the arch C, the bands U and V and belt W, as and for the purposes described.

CHARLES H. HELMS.

Witnesses:

E. C. SMITH, ROBT. H. HUNTER. 

